Republican lawmakers in Minnesota are sharply criticizing Governor Tim Walz after it was revealed that his office spent $430,000 in taxpayer money to prepare for a congressional hearing on sanctuary city policies. Invoices obtained by the Star Tribune show that Walz hired the international law firm K&L Gates to help prepare for his testimony before the GOP-led House Oversight Committee in mid-June. The hearing focused on the sanctuary policies of so-called “blue state” governors, including Walz.
The legal expenses were substantial, with approximately $232,000 incurred in May alone. According to the invoices, the average hourly rate was about $516. K&L Gates worked with Walz’s office from April 10 until the June 12 hearing, resulting in a total bill of $430,000. These costs have fueled criticism from Republican lawmakers, who argue that the governor could have relied on state resources instead of hiring outside counsel.
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Minnesota Rep. Jim Nash, a Republican member of the state’s Legislative Advisory Commission, questioned why Walz opted for external legal support. He pointed out that the Minnesota Attorney General, who served in Congress alongside Walz, could have assisted instead. “A half a million dollars of taxpayer money to prepare the governor to go to his old stomping grounds seems exorbitant,” Nash said, adding that he plans to investigate the expenses further.
Republican Rep. Harry Niska also condemned the spending, suggesting it had more to do with political image than legal necessity. Niska argued that Walz’s 12 years in Congress gave him more than enough familiarity with the setting. “There appears to be no legitimate legal interest in the state racking up nearly half a million dollars in what amounts to PR consulting,” Niska said. He further accused Walz of using taxpayer funds to fuel a “presidential campaign that’s going absolutely nowhere.”
The Walz administration has deflected criticism by shifting blame to Republicans, accusing them of orchestrating a politically motivated hearing. Walz spokesperson Teddy Tschann called the hearing a “planned political stunt on the taxpayer dime,” asserting that GOP Reps. Tom Emmer and Pete Stauber knowingly created an expensive spectacle. Walz himself expressed frustration, saying the hearing was “not where I wanted to spend money” and served only as a platform for Republican “grandstanding.” Notably, similar legal costs have been incurred in other cities—Boston Mayor Michelle Wu estimated $650,000 in legal prep earlier this year, and Denver paid $250,000 for Mayor Mike Johnston’s hearing preparation.
